Chapitre 7: the power of division 108
Hachiman found himself immersed in the paperwork related to the ship's accounts and records. After spending a week at sea, he meticulously calculated the resources consumed, the remaining supplies on the ship, and materials such as weapons and gunpowder. In front of him, Yukino was diligently working on a nautical map of the Grand Line, analyzing the maritime routes that Wang-okl's ship might have taken based on witness reports.
Unlike previous encounters, Yukino's beautiful face bore scratches and wounds, with a healing black eye. Whenever her gaze met Hachiman's, she would immediately shoot him a resentful look before returning to her work. Hachiman could only nervously chuckle in response, knowing that if glares could kill, he would be long gone.
The reason behind this animosity was that he was responsible for those injuries—or more precisely, the training method he had devised using materials found on the ship was the main cause. However, since he was the mastermind behind the idea that had caused her harm, it left him in an awkward position.
Let's revisit the past:
[Flashback]
Hachiman and Zaimokusa had spent five days working on a peculiar contraption. The design of the device would have piqued anyone's curiosity. Its true purpose was shrouded in mystery, as its odd shape made it difficult to discern its intent at first glance.
The contraption consisted of a cylindrical structure, roughly the size of a large paper tube, standing upright on a base of metal and iron. Instead of an open top, the object was sealed with a polished metal funnel adorned with intricate inscriptions and abstract designs that hinted at a hidden purpose; its shape resembled that of a rifle.
A gracefully curved handle, crafted from a blend of king seahorse leather and polished metal, emerged from the base of the cylinder. This handle had been carefully designed to fit comfortably in the hand and provide a secure grip, although its actual function appeared to elude onlookers.
Zaimokuza's personal design touch.
At the rear of the contraption, a transparent glass compartment revealed an additional enigma. Inside, several small spheres, with a diameter similar to marbles or larger, could be seen. However, these were no ordinary spheres; their composition and texture suggested they were made from king seahorse leather, possessing a soft and mysterious tone.
Most intriguing of all was the presence of a peculiar device at the base of the cylinder. It resembled a trigger or switch, with a nearby opening that could accommodate a human finger. Its purpose seemed to be the activation of the strange machine.
"What have you two created, you weirdos?" Yukino exclaimed as she gazed at the strange artifact before them.
"Always so stern, my commander," was Zaimokuza's response, his enthusiasm for their creation undiminished. "This is a technological marvel born from my friend and me."
"More yours than mine, I merely provided the idea, and Zaimokuza made this beauty a reality," Hachiman expressed as he patted Zaimokuza's proud shoulder.
Yukino remained skeptical. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Well, Commander Yukino, this is what the crew needs now—an incentive to develop Kenbunshoku Haki."
"Kenbunshoku Haki? And this strange contraption is going to help us awaken that Haki?" Yui's words were filled with astonishment, struggling to believe that the peculiar weapon they had created could assist in the process of awakening Haki.
"The word on the street is that awakening Haki requires intense training or a tremendous mental burden," Hachiman explained as he moved closer to the machine. "It's said that only 1 in 10,000 soldiers manages to achieve it before retiring or dying. But I believe that method is unnecessarily harsh, as it often leads to death before Haki awakening."
With these words, Hachiman moved the machine to the center of the training field, where he had set up a target on one of the walls.
"I developed my Kenbunshoku Haki by receiving kicks from Admiral Borsalino-senpai," Hachiman said, putting everyone on high alert, including Yui and Iroha, who hid behind Yukino, already wielding her Kairoseki staff.
"I won't replicate his training," he continued with a hint of anger in his voice, noticing the apprehension in his crew, "but I'll try to achieve the same results. The tension it generates will force your body to defend itself, hopefully activating the Haki without risking your life or being sent flying to another island."
The last part was a personal note from Hachiman, as memories of Kizaru kicking him like a comet to another island resurfaced.
"And how do you plan to do that with this strange machine?" Saki, the medical officer, expressed her concern.
"Easy, Ensign Saki," Hachiman said as he opened a compartment in the machine, revealing several leather spheres arranged as if ready to be launched. "You're going to have to dodge these spheres, which will be launched at high speed," he explained as he approached the switch, "a speed I can control with my plasma."
Hachiman's words didn't excite anyone in the crew, except for Zaimokuza.
"I don't think Haki is really necessary..." Iroha whispered, her worry evident. Hachiman overheard her, causing him to teleport in front of Iroha, startling her.
"Captain-senpai, you scared me..." Iroha exclaimed in annoyance as she lay on the ground, feeling the unexpected fall.
"If you had Haki, you would have sensed my arrival and even had a means to defend yourself if I had decided to attack you just now," Hachiman stated as he raised his foot, beginning to gather energy, surprising everyone.
The most surprised of all was Iroha, who could feel the heat of the energy accumulating in Hachiman's leg.
"C-captain-senpai, I'm not liking this joke, you're my captain..." Iroha said fearfully, aware that what Hachiman could do was something allowed by the Marines for officers to maintain control.
"Exactly, I am your captain, and that's why I wouldn't attack you," Hachiman declared as he deactivated his light attack, calming the entire crew. "But that won't save you if instead of facing me, you face a pirate or a revolutionary," he continued seriously, lowering his leg and turning his back.
"They won't forgive your weakness, and they'll exploit it even more if they realize you're a Devil Fruit user. And believe me, I'm not exaggerating..."
As Hachiman spoke, he approached the machine again using his teleportation.
"But Ryusuke, a valuable asset of the Marines, had his life cut short suddenly due to his inexperience when facing a Logia user..."
The man who, for the past five days, had seemed tall, lifeless, and unsociable, with cynicism in his voice, was now speaking very seriously.
"The Numa Numa no Mi or the Swamp Logia, that was the power of the man who killed Ryusuke, and he could be the man we may have to face one day. I'll use all my power to protect you."
As he uttered these words, Hachiman's face grew somber.
"But when you're immersed in the battlefield, you can only worry about yourself, and a distraction could mean the difference between life and death. I don't want to lose anyone, and the best way I can think of is to teach you Haki."
The sincerity and the way he expressed his words warmed the hearts of his crew, as they hadn't expected him to show concern so soon.
Then, changing his tone, Hachiman approached the machine and said the words no one wanted to hear.
"Well, who will be the first to try this baby out?"
Zaimokuza was ready to test his creation, but Yukino raised her hand and stepped forward.
"As the commander of this ship, it's my duty to go first after the captain, and if the captain has mastered this Haki, it shouldn't be that difficult."
"Stand between the target and the machine. The objective is simple, and your skill will be measured by how many of these balls hit the target instead of you," Hachiman explained as he began to activate the machine.
"It has 10 speeds. So, Ice Queen, with which speed would you like to start?" Hachiman said with a cynical smile that brought an ominous feeling to Yukino.
"Please stop smiling like that, Captain. I'll go with speed 5, if it's not too much trouble."
"Starting with the middle from the beginning, I expected nothing less," Hachiman remarked as he positioned himself behind the launching machine. "Oh, and two rules: first, you can't leave the circle where you're standing, and second, you can't use your Zoan powers. If you do, you'll get a spanking on your buttocks."
Upon hearing Hachiman's words, Yukino blushed and placed her hands on her rear end, while the other women on the ship gave Hachiman cold looks.
"Why are you looking at me like that? As your superior, I can decide the punishment, and in the case of Commander Yukino, she's a Zoan user with feline abilities. Her reflexes are much better than some Kenbunshoku Haki users, and if she uses her powers, the training won't be worth it," Hachiman defended himself, and the others, including Yukino, whispered in embarrassment.
"Pervert..."
They continued to cast disgusted glances at their captain, even though he had a valid argument.
"That would make Commander Yukino avoid using her powers to avoid a spanking, brilliant as I expected from my dear friend," Zaimokuza commented, being the only one who understood Hachiman's true message.
"I don't agree with your terms, pervert, but unfortunately, you're my superior, and I have to prove to you that my skills aren't just because of my Zoan fruit," Yukino expressed with pride as she positioned herself to dodge.
"Hachiman, go ahead..."
"I don't know why, but I felt like you used my name as an insult. Well, it doesn't matter," Hachiman said, looking puzzled, before approaching the switch to activate the fifth speed.
"There it goes, Commander. Heave-ho!" Hachiman exclaimed as he activated the machine, which started launching balls at tremendous speed, almost as fast as bullets. Yukino realized that they could hurt quite a bit if one of them hit her, so she agilely began to dodge the balls, surprising everyone.
"Wow, Yukinon is amazing!" Yui exclaimed in astonishment as her friend dodged all those balls.
"The ice monster of our generation is still incredible," she added.
Saki expressed her amazement at Yukino's talent still being intact.
"The best generation from the past is incredible. Ryusuke wasn't this good," Iroha commented, admiring Yukino's remarkable skills.
"You're quite good, but if it doesn't hurt, we won't achieve the goal," Hachiman exclaimed as he increased the speed from 5 to 6. The balls began flying much faster, now matching the speed of bullets.
Yukino felt the pressure as the balls started hitting her body before they could all reach the target. They struck her chest, stomach, arms, legs, and shoulders, causing considerable pain. It became increasingly difficult for her to dodge the balls.
Then, she failed to dodge one properly, and it struck her in the side of the eye, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Seeing Yukino hit by the ball, Hachiman's first thought was:
"Pst! Sorry, are you okay, Commander? Psst!"
He tried to speak, but he felt pain in his stomach, and his hand moved there instinctively.
Yukino struggled to get up, and when she revealed her face, it bore the mark of a ball, marring her beautiful visage. Concern swept over the other crew members as they watched her.
However, Hachiman began to experience even more intense pain in his stomach, causing him to kneel.
"Pst! That must hurt, Commander. Psst! Seriously, this is not a joke. Commander, psst!"
Hachiman started speaking, and the rest of the crew knew exactly what was coming. Yukino was the first to act; she drew her Kairoseki staff.
"Very funny, isn't it, Hachiman? I hope you enjoy what I'm about to do to your stupid machine. Soru!" Yukino yelled as she lunged toward the machine, ready to destroy it.
But instead of feeling the metal of the machine colliding with her weapon, she felt the impact of a sturdy sword, and when she looked, she saw Hachiman holding the sword.
"Don't go berserk, Commander. Psst!" Hachiman said while trying to hold back his laughter at Iron Queen's appearance, which didn't sit well with her. She started throwing punches with all her might, but Hachiman easily blocked them. His mastery of Kenbunshoku Haki made it easy for him to predict Yukino's attacks and movements.
"Lieutenant Zaimokuza, activate the machine at speed ten," Hachiman ordered Zaimokuza, who immediately complied.
Hachiman issued this command because he realized that he was inside the red circle while effortlessly fending off Yukino's attacks, and he was determined to increase the speed.
The balls were 4 or 5 times faster than a bullet, to the point where they could be lethal if they hit a distracted person. Yukino, seeing the balls approaching, moved away without worrying about Hachiman's situation since she knew he was a Logia user, and that speed wouldn't be lethal for someone like him.
What surprised her, however, was that in this hail of balls, they all hit the target. This was obvious since they could have passed through Hachiman's body when he turned translucent. But what truly surprised her was that Hachiman's body never changed its form due to the impacts. The only way that could happen was if none of the balls hit him, which meant he had evaded them all.
Hachiman, who appeared relaxed inside the red circle, was effortlessly dodging every ball launched at him.
"This is not just a Devil Fruit ability anymore; this is being a monster in its own right," Saika remarked, astonished by his friend's growth.
"If he learned Haki, he could reach that level," Zaimokuza added in amazement.
Then the machine finished launching balls, and to Yukino's amazement, every single one of them hit the target at that incredible speed.
"See, with Haki, this job is much easier... psst!" Hachiman couldn't contain his laughter, looking at Yukino's disheveled appearance.
"Why are you laughing so much, Captain of Rotten Fish Eyes?" Yukino yelled as she lunged at Hachiman, who effortlessly blocked every one of her attacks with fluid movements like a cloud.
"Don't you have any more Omega 3? I always heard you were smart, street cat..." Hachiman taunted, further infuriating Yukino.
The huge gap between these two from their academy days had now reversed, and the reason for it was clear: Haki.
"I'm going to crush you, Rotten Fish, nya!" Yukino declared as a pair of ears emerged from her head, a tail appeared from her behind, and her eyes acquired cat-like pupils, significantly increasing her speed.
But before Yukino could even move, Hachiman appeared swiftly behind her and raised his hand.
Slap! Kyaaaaaaaa-nya!
The sound echoed as Yukino fell to the ground in pain, protecting her behind, which seemed to glow red from the force of the slap.
Everyone present was astonished to see Yukino receive a resounding slap on her ass.
"It seems true that Zoan users can be affected by stress to the point of turning a refined cat into a street cat," Hachiman remarked as he addressed his embarrassed and blushing crew. Not so much because of the spanking itself, but because of the unexpectedly erotic sound that came out of Yukino's mouth.
"Don't be embarrassed, guys. She knew that if she broke the rules, she would get that spanking," Hachiman said, trying not to show that he was also uncomfortable with the sound Yukino made when she received the slap.
Meanwhile, Yukino lay on the ground, groaning in pain and muttering a few words under her breath.
"Hikigerma, hikkifrogaya, hikifoil, fishigaya, hikipervertd..." she whispered on the ground, completely in pain and furious about the spanking she had received.
"Ignoring the drama queen, does anyone else want to try the machine?" Hachiman asked his crew.
"Iroha, do you want to give it a try?" Hachiman said as he looked at Iroha.
"I don't want to be spanked, Captain Hachiman," Iroha said, showing her fear.
Iroha's words surprised Hachiman because she referred to him by his name instead of "senpai."
"Don't worry, Iroha. The spanking is just to keep the cat from going wild," Hachiman added, trying to sound reassuring.
"Phew, thanks, Captain," Iroha said before she could continue, Hachiman looked at her with a narrowed gaze.
"Again with the 'senpai'..."
Hachiman said, disheartened, as he thought he had already been recognized for his rank and not just as a senpai.
Many were relieved in their situation, thinking they had been spared from the spanking, but without saying a word to anyone, Yui's face showed a certain disappointment at escaping the spanking.
Then Hachiman looked at his crew, and hope returned to Yui's heart, but it quickly vanished with Hachiman's words.
"Except you, Zaimokuza. Since you're also a Zoan user, if I see you using your powers, I'll kick you in the butt with all my strength," Hachiman said with seriousness.
Hachiman's words left Zaimokuza pale, and he tried to change his mind.
"But, Captain, you said no kicks..."
"That's for the girls and Saika," Hachiman said, pointing at the other members of his crew. "You, being a Zoan user like Yukino, could withstand the blow and help develop a better recovery metabolism," he added while pointing at Yukino, who was still rubbing her behind while simultaneously continuing to insult her superior with new and creative insults.
.
.
.
[End flashback]
"Come on, Commander, it was just a simple training. Don't take it personally," Hachiman spoke, trying to restore peace between the two.
"Simple training? Because of you, I sat on ice for thirty minutes yesterday," Yukino complained furiously.
"But you recovered quickly, and we strengthened the properties of a carnivorous Zoan like yours with that," Hachiman tried to defend himself, but Yukino's glare didn't help.
"You're such an idiot. But seriously, why did you give such a ridiculous punishment?" Yukino asked.
In response to Yukino's question, Hachiman stopped writing and spoke.
"I wanted to bring out the wild cat within you, wink," Hachiman said, winking, which earned him a ruler thrown directly at his head. Fortunately, it passed through him and embedded itself in the wall.
"Okay, I deserved that," Hachiman responded as he looked back at the ruler embedded in the wall. "I hope Zaimokuza can fix that wall."
"Next time, it'll be my staff if you keep saying stupid things, Hikipervertd," Yukino said, quite angry.
"Captain..." Hachiman began before falling silent as he saw Yukino starting to reach for her kairoseki staff. "Okay, let me explain, Commander."
"When I said I wanted to bring out the wild cat within you, it wasn't just a simple joke. I also wanted to see how you would react under pressure and the impulses that a Zoan can generate in such situations," Hachiman explained, hoping that Yukino would lower her staff. Seeing that she did, he sighed in relief.
"But the spanking punishment wasn't necessary..."
"If I hadn't given you that option, you wouldn't have tried so hard to avoid the spheres from the beginning without using your powers. Since I knew you weren't a pervert, it wouldn't have been easy to push you to the limit to make you use your powers," Hachiman spoke carefully, trying not to provoke her to raise her staff again.
"I must add that you endured more than expected. Your initial cold personality helped prevent the impulses of an angry cat from activating immediately. If you continue to control yourself like that, it won't be so difficult for you to awaken Haki."
"Seems like you're used to this. Could it be the loser personality that never stopped working that made you somewhat famous in the academy?" Yukino expressed, her tone calmer as she recalled a period from their past they had both experienced.
"Not entirely for that reason. I was just putting in the effort to prevent myself from getting expelled from the academy and to eventually work in the East Blue with a high rank..." Hachiman admitted, a bit embarrassed by the countless "Ilimitles Zero" he had received at the academy from students and professors, especially from Zephyr-sensei.
"This was more because of the countless Light Kicks I received from Kizaru. So many Light Kicks can change a person and force them to become strong, just to give back a little of the pain I endured..." Hachiman expressed with pain, closing his eyes as memories of Kizaru relentlessly kicking him throughout that year flashed before him. It had changed him profoundly.
Seeing the pain in Hachiman's face, Yukino's resentment melted away, and she now regarded him as a fool.
"Those are the methods of the Marines. I can't be angry with you..."
"Oh, Yukino, is the Ice Demon maturing? If you weren't my captain, I'd give you a kiss..."
"And if you weren't my captain, I would've hit you in the groin with this staff a long time ago," Yukino said, blushing at the words she had just spoken, using them as a means of defense. It proved quite effective, as Hachiman instinctively took a step back, mindful of his valuable nakamas.
Hachiman then retrieved a report from his desk.
"Why don't we review the results? As you know, even after receiving the spanking, you had the best time in reaching the 'Vav' speed without using your powers."
Hachiman explained as he opened the report he had prepared, with Yukino's name at the top with a score of 6 velocities (Vav).
"Following you, we have two at a lower speed level, Iroha and Saika. I expected that result from Iroha, given she was the best of the previous two generations, but Saika matching her was the biggest surprise."
Hachiman continued as he flipped through the pages, revealing Iroha and Saika's names with scores of 4 velocities (Daleth).
"Then we have these three in the Gimmel range, with Yui being the best in this category, but she failed in the Daleth range. After her, Saki performed as expected, but I was surprised that Zaimokuza scored so low, with most of the balls in this level hitting his body."
"That might be because he's quite large," Yukino remarked, recalling how most objects had hit Zaimokuza quite forcefully while he maintained control and refrained from using his powers.
"And he's even larger in his hybrid form. We'll need to find a solution; otherwise, he'll be an easy target for enemy firearms or cannons."
Hachiman looked at the report with concern as he analyzed it. As someone who was used to serving or being ignored, giving orders and planning ideas still proved challenging for him. The ball launcher had only worked due to Zaimokuza's creative genius.
Then, they had a few moments to make the most of Zaimokuza's agility, and in that moment, Yukino came up with a certain idea.
"How about teaching him Kami-e?"
Yukino's words illuminated Hachiman's mind.
"Kami-e, that sounds perfect. With that, Zaimokuza's massive body could become as light as paper."
"Under your supervision, I could teach him Kami-e. If you had read the report, you would know that I've mastered three of the Rokushiki styles: Soru, Geppo, and Kami-e," Yukino pronounced somewhat arrogantly. And rightfully so, as in the Grand Line, Rokushiki was a martial art that required a lot of effort and dedication to master one of the six known styles. Given such dedication and the increased strength of practitioners, the Marines used it as a measure for rank promotion, with certain Rokushiki requirements based on the following:
Sergeant Major: 1 Rokushiki
Lieutenant: 2 Rokushiki
Commodore: 3 Rokushiki
Vice Admiral: 4 Rokushiki
Therefore, Yukino's mastery of three Rokushiki styles, even with her rank as a commander, was quite impressive and hinted at a bright future in the Marines. For the Hachiman of a year ago, this would have been incredible, as he remembered his father, who was a lieutenant and only mastered one Rokushiki style, as well as the captain who served in Sobu, who also only mastered one Rokushiki style, and that was Soru.
Soru was considered the simplest movement in Rokushiki and still proved quite challenging for much of the Marine Corps, including Hachiman, who practiced it the most in his free time and could never master it without ending up with injuries.
Reflecting on this past, Hachiman smiled and spoke to Yukino.
"And who says I can't help too?" Hachiman expressed with a confidence that surprised Yukino.
"Oh, you also mastered Kami-e? That's a surprise. I thought you might have chosen the simpler ones to master, like Soru or Geppo," Yukino expressed, her surprise evident. "But I suppose as a Logia user, Geppo wouldn't be of much use since you can fly. So Kami-e would help you understand your intangible body better. That was quite intelligent, Captain Hachiman."
Yukino finished applauding and said, "You make a good point there. Kami-e did help me become more flexible and facilitate my intangibility, but I must tell you that before Haki-infused strikes, Kami-e and Tekkai won't be of much use."
"Tekkai? But if you're a Logia user, I don't see how hardening yourself so much would be beneficial," Yukino said, surprised to hear that Hachiman had decided to learn Tekkai. While she could understand why he chose to learn Kami-e, Tekkai seemed like a waste of his Logia powers.
"I thought the same, but when you're forced to learn all six styles, you try to find their uses, and stopping Busoshoku Haki-infused strikes is one of them," Hachiman explained.
Yukino stood up from her chair and exclaimed, "You master all six Rokushiki styles?!"
"When you receive so many Light Kicks and Armament Haki-infused strikes to the point of becoming a punching bag, you learn things to survive."
"What kind of crazy year did you have?"
"One that still gives me nightmares, so if you're looking for my bed at night, it wouldn't be a good time... Ouch!" Hachiman complained as he received a hit on the head from Yukino's staff.
"Make another joke like that, and I'll make up for the spanking with your groin," Yukino said in a cold voice, making it clear she was dead serious. Hachiman, in response to her seriousness, could only cover his groin out of fear.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
As this transpired, the door to the room suddenly swung open, and Yui entered with an alarmed look on her face.
"Captain Hachiman, I have bad news. Lieutenant Junior Grade Iroha, who's on lookout duty, spotted a pirate ship on the horizon."
Upon hearing Yui's words, Hachiman took out some papers from his desk.
"Fresh out of Marineford, and we already run into our first pirate crew. I hope their name appears on this list, or it'll be more troublesome than expected," Hachiman said as he stood up and walked toward the door. Yukino accompanied him on his right side, while Yui was on his left.
Upon reaching the deck, they heard Iroha's voice.
"They're on the starboard side at 45 degrees southeast," came Iroha's voice from the crow's nest, and Hachiman pulled out his telescope to look in the indicated direction.
"Yep, pirates. But I don't recognize the pattern on their flag at all," Hachiman said as he examined the Jolly Roger, which featured a design of a lion looking sideways with skulls around it.
"Let me see that," Yukino said, receiving the telescope. Like Hachiman, she couldn't immediately identify the Jolly Roger.
"I don't recognize it either, Commander Yukino. Let me check in this pirate flag catalog," Hachiman said as he began to look through the booklet he had in his hands.
But before he could speak, a booming voice came from the pirate ship, grabbing the attention of the crew on Kamakura I.
"Surrender all your treasure, and maybe we'll let you live, kin kin kin kin!"
The man with the loud voice and an eccentric laugh was a big, dark-skinned individual with long red hair that resembled a lion's mane.
"Listen to the captain, kids. We promise not to harm you if you hand over all your treasure," said another man, almost as large as the red-haired one, with black hair tied in pigtails, wielding a massive sword in one hand.
"Mochi, we have no idea who they are, so they can at least give us their name. That would be polite," Hachiman spoke, quite relaxed.
"Hah, trying to act cool in front of the ladies, little captain? But when you know my name, you'll learn your place. I am Eldoraggo, and these men behind me are the Eldoraggo Pirates, kin kin kin!" Eldoraggo shouted loudly, and his crew echoed his cries. However, when they looked at Hachiman's face expecting fear, all they saw was indifference and even some doubt.
"Who?" Hachiman asked, ignoring the pirates and glancing over at Yukino, who continued to search through the catalog.
Hachiman's lack of interest in the crew about to rob their ship began to infuriate Eldoraggo, and the veins on his head started to bulge. His crew members distanced themselves from him as he began to emit a golden aura.
"Complain in the afterlife because of your stupid captain. You're all going to die! Gooooo!" Eldoraggo yelled, and from his voice, a powerful beam of energy shot toward the ship, threatening to completely destroy Kamakura I.
"Plasma ball!" Hachiman exclaimed as he made his arms shine and moved them simultaneously from behind to the front in a cross pattern, releasing a large amount of energy to form a huge dome that surrounded the entire ship.
The collision was imminent, but Eldoraggo's attack, despite its strength, couldn't penetrate the protective sphere generated by Hachiman, dispersing harmlessly into the air and only causing ripples in the waves.
"What was that... Are you also a Devil Fruit user?" Eldoraggo exclaimed, surprised that his attack, which could damage warships, was ineffective against the energy dome created by the young man in front of him.
"Yes, you know, I don't have time to get to know all of you and learn about your lives, just as you don't know about mine. So, I'll let your attack slide and allow you to leave in peace," Hachiman stated, sounding somewhat exhausted, not from using his technique, but from paperwork and the morning training.
However, that thought faded away with Yukino's words.
"I've found them. Eldoraggo 'the Shouting Gold' and his first officer Golass 'the Greedy Swordsman.' A pirate crew that's been operating for 23 years, dedicated to treasure hunting and robbery," Yukino said, more focused on finding information about the pirates than the small skirmish that had just occurred.
"Their bounties are 60 million and 40 million respectively. If we capture them, Captain, that would be a haul of 100 million, and with the commission after taxes, there would be 90 million to split among the crew."
"Oh, that would mean I'd receive around 22.5 million Belly. Alright, folks, I've changed my mind. Looks like they'll have to be captured."
What caused Hachiman's change of heart? Nothing less than the commission, the Marines' strategy to motivate their troops to fight and capture pirates without falling into the darker path of becoming bounty hunters.
The commission was quite straightforward: it involved distributing the value of a pirate after a 10% tax imposed by the government, which was four times lower than the average tax rate in the seas and three times lower than the tax rate applied to bounty hunters.
This money would be divided among the crew according to the rule of a maximum of seven officers. Using the Kamakura I crew as an example, it would be distributed as follows:
Captain: 25%
Commander: 20%
Lieutenant Commander: 15%
Lieutenant: 10%
Junior Lieutenant: 8%
Ensigns x2: 6% (12% total)
The rest: 10%
In this particular case, with no other crew members, they agreed to use that 10% for an emergency fund and provisions for the ship.
The strategy was successful and instilled a great deal of fear in many pirates because the Marines often became even more greedy than bounty hunters.
"You damn bastard! Golass, I'll give you a thousand coins if you bring me his head!" Eldoraggo shouted furiously, pointing his finger at a calm Hachiman.
"Right away, boss," Golass responded as he drew his sword and leaped towards Hachiman. However, before his attack could connect with Hachiman, a steel bar blocked his path.
"Blade Master: Second Move - Furious Boar!" Zaimokuza shouted in his hybrid form, not only stopping Golass's attack but overpowering the pirate and sending him crashing into the ship's bow.
"It wasn't necessary to stop him..." Hachiman commented calmly.
"I wasn't going to allow someone so weak to touch the master I chose to serve, so allow me to go and fight..." Zaimokuza declared, his excitement at the prospect of battling not concealed.
"Do as you wish..."
Upon hearing Hachiman's words, Zaimokuza smiled and launched himself towards the ship with the tremendous leg strength his hybrid form provided.
"Dammit, someone stop the pig..." Eldoraggo cursed as he saw Zaimokuza approaching at high speed.
"I'm a boar, idiots. Blade Master: Third Move - Boar's Hammer!" Zaimokuza roared as he raised his sword and sent a powerful horizontal slash directly at the ship. The slash was so potent that it split a significant portion of the vessel with a mighty blow.
"Lieutenant Zaimokuza is too excited, but he might be too dangerous if he fights alone. I'll assist him..." Yukino declared as a tail emerged from her rear, two cat ears appeared on her head, and her hands turned into feline-like paws.
"Soru!" Yukino exclaimed as she disappeared from the prow and reappeared in front of several gunmen who were aiming at Zaimokuza.
"Fury Swipes!" Yukino calmly stated as she vanished again and appeared behind the gunmen. The sound of tearing fabric and the sight of blood oozing from the gunmen's bodies filled the air as they fell to the ground unconscious.
"Damn it, they're both Zoan users! Golass, get up quickly; I didn't pay you to laze around..." Eldoraggo shouted without realizing that a honey-haired woman had appeared next to him.
"Hypno, Hypno..." Iroha intoned as she captured Eldoraggo's attention. As he turned towards Iroha, he became entranced, staring at her as her eyes turned black and white and swirled.
"You know, Captain Senpai, they're all your enemies. So why don't you defeat them?"
Iroha pointed towards Golass, who was restraining Zaimokuza, and also towards the pirates who were fighting Yukino.
"That would be really cool, teehee," Iroha expressed as she closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, they were completely normal.
"Damn pirates, I'll take care of them myself!" Eldoraggo shouted angrily as he launched into battle against his own men, who couldn't react to their captain's attacks.
"Captain, has he gone mad?!"
Boom!
"Shut up, you filthy pirate," Eldoraggo immediately responded as he smashed the man who had confronted him, breaking the man's teeth.
"Wow, the powers of the Saimin Saimin no Mi are terrifying. You made that man turn against his own crew..." Hachiman remarked as he appeared next to Iroha.
"It's because I'm too cool, but unfortunately, it doesn't work on strong Observation Haki users, or I'd be serving under Hayama-senpai or Koby-senpai now, teehee."
"Why didn't you try it on me?" Hachiman asked curiously.
"If Senpai was going to die against Sakazuki-sama, I wanted it to be voluntary because I wanted to fulfill a whim for my adorable senpai, not be considered a murderer, teehee."
"Don't try to be adorable; with that personality, you're scary."
"You can't help it, Captain-senpai; I was born adorable. It's the punishment that God imposed on me," Iroha expressed, giving Hachiman puppy dog eyes that he chose to ignore as he appeared behind Eldoraggo.
"Shigan Plasma!" With a rapid finger thrust, charged with violet energy, he struck Eldoraggo with a force greater than that of a bullet, leaving an enormous burn and causing the giant pirate to fall unconscious.
To the surprise of the entire crew, and before anyone could react, Hachiman disappeared in a violet flash and reappeared in front of Golass, who was recovering from the blow.
Wham!
Using the same technique he had used on Eldoraggo, he knocked Golass down, causing the giant to fall on his back. With little enthusiasm, Hachiman walked towards the giant and picked him up.
"Zaimokuza, take care of Eldoraggo. Yukino and Iroha, return to the ship. Yui, go to the helm and start moving the Kamakura I," Hachiman ordered, his fatigue causing him to forget to use their official titles, but each member understood and carried out his instructions.
Yukino and Iroha immediately leaped onto the ship as it began to move, with Zaimokuza following suit. Using the strength of his hybrid form, he managed to lift Golass's massive body and jump onto the moving ship.
"I'm sorry, but you don't interest me," Hachiman stated as he lifted Golass's body and used Geppo to jump onto the moving ship.
"When Zaimokuza returns, tell him to take this body to the prison. I need to say goodbye to our friends for today," Hachiman told Saki, who was nearby, checking Golass's condition. He then turned around, watching as the pirate ship began to move.
"Don't blame me in hell for doing this, blame the path you chose," Hachiman muttered as he began to charge plasma energy in the space between his hands.
"Plasma Cannon!" Exhausted, Hachiman exclaimed as he fired a plasma beam towards the pirate ship. The pirates could only see a phosphorescent light from the horizon before they were hit by a powerful blast that completely destroyed the ship and disintegrated most of its crew. The rest were consumed by the flames as the ship sank into the sea.
"See you in hell, bastards," Hachiman muttered as he retreated to his quarters. He wanted some time alone, which his crew understood as they marveled at the immense power he possessed and watched the flames rising from the sinking ship.
— Un nouveau chapitre arrive bientôt — Écrire un avis
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone